Valle Vidal Coalition gathers momentum

Even as new drill rigs tickle the boundaries of the
Valle Vidal, the coalition opposing energy exploration in New
Mexico’s Yellowstone gains strength.

In January,
the Bureau of Land Management gave Houston-based El Paso Energy the
go-ahead to drill 25 new coalbed methane wells on the Vermejo Park
Ranch, private land adjacent to the Valle that already hosts more
than 600 wells. The approvals outraged drilling opponents, because
although the new wells could suck gas from underneath Carson
National Forest, the agency did not solicit public input.

But the move may have helped bolster support for the Coalition for
the Valle Vidal, a group of environmentalists, lawmakers and
sportsmen trying to stop El Paso’s bid to drill on 40,000
acres of the high mountain basin (HCN, 3/01/04: Oil
and gas drilling could oust elk — and Boy Scouts).

In
February, the city of Albuquerque joined Santa Fe, Taos, and a
dozen other communities in adopting a resolution opposing energy
development in the Valle. Ninety-nine percent of public comments on
the Forest Service’s forest plan amendment for the Valle
opposed energy development — including a comment from Rep.
Heather Wilson, R, a champion of the oil and gas industry. The
coalition hopes to win backing for a bill, sponsored by New Mexico
Democrats Rep. Tom Udall and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, that would ban
drilling in the Valle.

The Forest Service says it will
finish its forest plan amendment this fall.